Beginning

So, I am at the starting point of what seems to be a very intriguing and exciting possibility: a freelance writing career. After years of writing for my own pleasure, I’m doing it, pounding the virtual pavement with tenacity and trying to find paid jobs to get this thing off the ground. I know I can write and have been blessed to be connected to a wonderful freelancer from our local area, Patti, who is amazingly helpful and supportive, gave me my first break and now a couple of paid features a month to get under my belt. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for her!

As I struggle through this month’s feature (it’s for a professional newsletter in a field that I have not worked in before) I mostly contend with the need to build confidence in my writing and my ability to pick up something new, digest it and be able to write about it. There is this period of time when writing, for me, when, no matter what I do, it just seems like chaos. All of a sudden, it clicks, I don’t know how or when it happens, but it really always does. It is the hardest part to wait out and I always think “this is the time it won’t happen!” But it comes eventually and in time. From a career standpoint, this is something I want like nothing else, and I am willing to do what it takes. No doubt it will take believing in me --- in the midst of something new, maintaining self-efficacy is a tough challenge, but surely possible.

I have a huge portfolio of personal writing endeavors, but as far as paid projects, only a few press releases and as of this coming Monday, my first byline. It is a huge deal for me and I am really proud of myself. I have other things in the works, too – I am anticipating many good things to come. At this point, believing in me might be the single most important thing I can do!